Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/30914
Title: Ranging Behaviour of Commercial Free-Range Broiler Chickens 1: Factors Related to Flock Variability
Contributor(s): Taylor, Peta S  (author)orcid ; Hemsworth, Paul H (author); Groves, Peter J  (author); Gebhardt-Henrich, Sabine G (author); Rault, Jean-Loup (author)
Publication Date: 2017-07-20
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/ani7070054
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/30914
Abstract: Little is known about the ranging behaviour of chickens. Understanding ranging behaviour is required to improve management and shed and range design to ensure optimal ranging opportunities. Using Radio Frequency Identification technology, we tracked 300 individual broiler chickens in each of four mixed sex ROSS 308 flocks on one commercial farm across two seasons. Ranging behaviour was tracked from the first day of range access (21 days of age) until 35 days of age in winter and 44 days of age in summer. Range use was higher than previously reported from scan sampling studies. More chickens accessed the range in summer (81%) than winter (32%; p < 0.05). On average, daily frequency and duration of range use was greater in summer flocks (4.4 ± 0.1 visits for a total of 26.3 ± 0.8 min/day) than winter flocks (3.2 ± 0.2 visits for a total of 7.9 ± 1.0 min/day). Seasonal differences were only marginally explained by weather conditions and may reflect the reduction in range exposure between seasons (number of days, hours per day, and time of day). Specific times of the day (p < 0.01) and pop-holes were favoured (p < 0.05). We provide evidence of relationships between ranging and external factors that may explain ranging preferences.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Animals, 7(7), p. 1-14
Publisher: MDPI AG
Place of Publication: Switzerland
ISSN: 2076-2615
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 310901 Animal behaviour
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 109902 Animal welfare
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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